Gray (or Legacy Black) Bin (Trash)
To prevent litter in San Diego's neighborhoods and canyons, all loose refuse must be bagged or wrapped before being placed in the gray trash bin. Carts must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m.
Accepted Items
- ✓General household refuse
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and film
- ✓Chip bags and snack wrappers
- ✓Pet waste and diapers
- ✓Broken ceramics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be empty, dry, and placed loosely in the blue bin. Do not bag your recyclables, as plastic bags jam the gears at the Material Recovery Facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper, junk mail, and magazines
- ✓Flattened cardboard boxes
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or film
- ✕Food-soiled cardboard (like pizza boxes)
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, hangers)
- ✕Clothing or textiles
Yard Waste Bin
Do not collect organic waste in plastic, compostable plastic, or biodegradable plastic bags. Use only paper bags, or layer your food scraps directly in the bin with yard waste to absorb moisture.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves, grass clippings, and tree roots
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, meat, and bones
- ✓Dairy products and eggshells
- ✓Food-soiled paper and greasy pizza boxes
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Currently Paused (No on-demand curbside service for city-serviced homes)
Placement
Do not leave bulky items on the curb outside of a sanctioned Community Cleanup event, as illegal dumping is actively enforced. For authorized events, follow the specific drop-off or curbside instructions provided.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances
- ✓ Rugs and carpeting
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Commercial or contractor-generated waste
- ✕ Tires
Community Cleanup events are free when available in your district. Taking items directly to the Miramar Landfill incurs a standard flat-rate disposal fee based on your vehicle type and the weight of the load.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a City-observed holiday falls on a weekday, trash collection is pushed back one day for the remainder of that week. For example, Thursday pickups will occur on Friday, and Friday pickups will occur on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Green organic waste and blue recycling bins follow the exact same delayed holiday schedule as the gray trash bins.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, there is generally no delay in the weekday residential collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Zero Tolerance for Bio-Plastics
Even if a plastic bag, cup, or utensil is heavily marketed as 'biodegradable' or 'compostable', it does not belong in your green cart. The Miramar Greenery cannot process these materials, and they will contaminate the compost.
Return Plastic Bags to the Store
Plastic grocery bags and film wrap are the number one contaminant in San Diego's blue recycling bins. They ruin sorting machinery. Keep your recyclables loose and take your plastic film back to a local grocery store for recycling.
Keep Electronics Out of Carts
Never throw old TVs, computers, microwaves, or lithium-ion batteries into your regular bins. These are considered e-waste and pose severe fire risks. They must be taken to the Miramar Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility.
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December - JanuarySan Diego offers a robust Christmas tree recycling program. Residents can drop off clean, un-flocked trees at various designated park locations across the city or cut them up to fit entirely inside their green organics bin.
Year-Round
January - DecemberBecause organic materials are processed locally at the Miramar Greenery, the city periodically hosts free compost giveaway events for San Diego residents. Check the ESD website for upcoming dates.
About San Diego Waste Management
The Measure B Transition: Understanding Your Solid Waste Fee
For over a century, the People’s Ordinance of 1919 provided certain San Diego residents with free trash collection. Following the passage of Measure B, the city has transitioned to a fee-based system. Starting in the 2025/2026 fiscal year, eligible single-family homes and small multi-family residences will see a Solid Waste Management Fee on their annual County property tax bills. This fee covers the rollout of new, RFID-chipped gray bins and funds the ongoing weekly collection of refuse and organics, as well as the bi-weekly collection of mixed recyclables.
San Diego's SB 1383 Strategy and the Miramar Greenery
To comply with California’s stringent SB 1383 climate mandates, the Environmental Services Department requires all residents to recycle their organic waste. Your green bin is not just for yard trimmings; it is mandatory for all kitchen food scraps, including meat, dairy, bones, and food-soiled paper like greasy pizza boxes. These materials are transported to the Miramar Greenery, where they are transformed into high-quality compost and mulch. To keep the composting process pure, residents must never use plastic or 'compostable' bio-plastic bags; instead, food scraps should be wrapped in plain newspaper or placed in a paper bag.
Navigating the Pause on Curbside Bulky Pickups
In an effort to keep the new Solid Waste Management Fees as low as possible for residents in 2026 and beyond, the City Council voted to pause the rollout of a citywide, on-demand curbside bulky item pickup program. Consequently, there is no free, on-demand bulk pickup for individual city-serviced homes. Residents must instead rely on periodic, district-organized Community Cleanup events, or haul their large items directly to the Miramar Landfill on Convoy Street, where standard flat-rate disposal fees apply.
The Get It Done App: Your Gateway to City Services
San Diego relies heavily on its robust 'Get It Done' platform to manage residential waste services. Available as a free mobile app and a web portal, Get It Done allows residents to check their specific Week A or Week B recycling schedules, report a missed pickup (which must be done within 24 hours of the service day), request container repairs, and report illegal dumping. Utilizing this digital tool is the fastest way to get a response from the Environmental Services Department.
Drop-off Facilities
Miramar Landfill & Recycling Center
5180 Convoy St., San Diego, CA 92111
Materials Accepted
Miramar Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility
5161 Convoy St., San Diego, CA 92111 (Entrance at Convoy St. and State Route 52)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I being charged for trash collection in San Diego now?
Following the passage of Measure B, the city ended the century-old People's Ordinance that provided free trash pickup. The city now assesses a Solid Waste Management Fee on annual property tax bills to cover the costs of weekly refuse and organics collection, bi-weekly recycling, and new bin replacements.
How do I schedule a free bulky item pickup in San Diego?
Currently, the City of San Diego does not offer an on-demand, curbside bulky item pickup for single-family homes. You must either haul your large items to the Miramar Landfill (where fees apply) or wait for a scheduled Community Cleanup event in your City Council district.
What holidays actually delay my trash pickup in San Diego?
The Environmental Services Department delays service by one day only for six major holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If the holiday falls on a weekday, the rest of the week's pickups shift one day forward.
Can I use compostable bags for my food scraps in the green bin?
No. The City of San Diego prohibits all types of plastic bags in the green organics bin, including those labeled 'compostable' or 'biodegradable.' You must keep your food scraps loose, wrap them in newspaper, or use a standard paper bag.